The EmpoweRx Conference was born out of a clear need for a dedicated space for emergency medicine (EM) pharmacists. Founded in 2021 by Jimmy Pruitt and other EM pharmacists, the conference emerged to fill a void where traditional events often missed the mark, offering little focus on the burgeoning field of emergency medicine pharmacotherapy. It was created as a dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative platform that intentionally fostered a relaxed and engaging environment.
What began as a virtual gathering in 2022 quickly grew into a global movement. Our conference transcends borders, drawing over 1,000 professionals worldwide, with strong representations from countries like Saudi Arabia, Canada, Great Britain, Mexico, and Australia. We welcome all healthcare professionals, with the speaker and chair committees reflecting this collaborative spirit, featuring a diverse mix of EM pharmacists, physicians, and nurses. This multidisciplinary approach highlights that EM is a collaborative field, requiring the accommodation of various specialties.
This rapid growth and the community's passionate engagement underscored a larger need: a permanent professional home for EM pharmacists. This led to the creation of the Society of Emergency Medicine Pharmacists (SEMP). Launched in 2025, SEMP represented a historic milestone as the first professional organization exclusively focused on emergency medicine pharmacy. The conference became its official, flagship annual meeting.
The partnership with SEMP marked a new era of growth and innovation. This collaboration allowed the conference to expand beyond its two-day format to include pre-conference workshops, hands-on skills labs, and enhanced multidisciplinary activities. SEMP also launched the Journal of Acute Care Pharmacotherapy (JACP), which provides a dedicated platform for research not just in EM but across all of acute care. The success of this transition is evident in the numbers; the 2025 conference was a breakthrough year with 826 attendees, a 118% increase from the previous year, proving the vision of a dedicated community has truly taken off.
Learn More About SEMP